What: A Diversity Leadership Conference for Professionals

When: September 19, 2007. Conference is from 7am - 12pm and the Luncheon is from 12pm - 2pm.

Where: Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350-1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Cost: $79 for the conference & luncheon or $29 for the luncheon only

An important and very exciting opportunity for professionals working in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.

The conference will address a range of critically important themes relating to the ever-changing cultural climate both locally and in other communities. Hosted by Diversity Focus, the tools will be provided to assist local professionals and businesses become more welcoming as the scene continues to transform.

The opening keynote speaker is Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO, Mr. Clay Jones. The luncheon keynote speaker is bestselling author, educator and entrepreneur, Mr. Stedman Graham. Mr. Graham will speak on embracing diversity. His latest book release, Diversity: Leaders not Labels, includes his unique approach to eliminating barriers to success.

To learn more or to register, contact Diversity Focus at: Diversity@DiversityFocus.org or (319) 363-3707 or visit the website at www.DiversityFocus.org

This is a fabulous opportunity! Shuffle your calendar if necessary and find a way to attend!

ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT YOUR FAMILY CAN DO THIS WEEKEND?

Visit Mt Vernon, Iowa and see what the fuss is all about! There are many events scheduled throughout the weekend, but bring the family Saturday to enjoy some of these things:

8am: 5K Run/Walk

10am: Bike Ride to Springville, Waubeek back to Mt Vernon

10am - 5pm: Over 20 artists will display their work in Memorial Park and many children's art activities will be offered

11am: Heritage Days Annual Parade

12pm - 10pm: The midway is open and has everything that a good summer festival should offer: rides, inflatables, games, street vendors, bingo and much, much more

9pm: The Large Midgets hit the Main Street Stage.

Spend Saturday, July 14th in Mount Vernon, Iowa and find something that everyone in your family can enjoy!

For more information, visit: www.visitmvl.com OR, as always, contact me: Heather@VoyagerRealty.com or (319) 329-6471. See you there!

Brucemore Mansion, 2160 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids will once again be the site for the Annual Freedom Festival "Balloon Glow" held on Thursday, June 28, 2007 from 7pm - 10pm. Admission is free with a Freedom Festival button.

Watch a kaleidoscope of color unfold during Balloon Glow. Relax and enjoy the warm summer evening as balloonists inflate their tethered, lighted hot air balloons on the beautiful lawns of historic Brucemore.

Faculty Lounge, Des Moines' premium 8-piece, teacher-friendly, horn-driven, multi-hyphenated funk machine that offers an eclectic assortment of jazz, fun, soul and R&B, promises a lively evening of family-friendly entertainment.

This event is sponsored by Linn Area Credit Union and the stage will be sponsored by Loving Care Learning Center.
Additional parking and shuttle buses to and from Brucemore at Washington High School, 2205 Forest Dr. SE.

For more information, visit the Freedom Festival website at: www.FreedomFestival.com

Play in the first-ever Freedom Festival All-Ages Wiffle Ball Tournament produced by the Oakland Church of the Nazarene. It is located at: 3000-42nd Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA.

Each 5-player team requires one child (age 12 or under), one teen (age 13-19) and one adult (age 20+). Round-robin play June 29 from 5am - 9pm, and the morning of June 30th. The championship rounds will be held in the afternoon on June 30th.

Top teams receive prizes and food will be available for purchase on-site. Registration fee is $10 per team.

For more information, or to register visit: www.oaklandnaz.org/wiffle or call (319)393-7399

If you like Bluegrass, you can't miss this performance on June 21st at 7:30:

DRUHA TRAVA, one of the most successful international bluegrass bands of all time.

Formed in 1991, the Czech ensemble (translated, the name means "Second Grass") quickly went on to become multiple award winners in their homeland.

Band leader Robert Krestan has been called the Bill Monroe of Prague. His bandmates are accomplished instrumentalists whose influences include jazz, rock and country. The result is a fresh and innovative sound and a concert experience that challenges all preconceptions - lively banter, dazzling bluegrass classics, jazz standards and covers of artists as diverse as Bob Dylan and Dire Straits.

Though chiefly referred to as a bluegrass group, Druha Trava actually incorporate elements of country, swing, jazz, folk and rock into their skillfully rendered music. Not only an international phenomenon, Druha Trava is also one of the most beloved bands in the Czech Republic.

Due to weather, the concert has been moved inside to CSPS which is located at 1103-3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Their phone number is: 319-364-1580.

The concert is free and you can bring your whole family! Music will start at 7:30pm and end around 9:00pm during which time food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

See you there!

Ushers Ferry's Annual Trains Day will be held on Sunday, June 3rd from 11:00am to 5:00pm

If you have never been out to visit Ushers Ferry, this is a great opportunity for your family to see all that they have to offer! A visit to Ushers Ferry Historic Village, located on the outskirts of northeast Cedar Rapids, is a step back in time 100 years to experience how Iowans lived before the modern day conveniences were made available.

The Trains Day is an annual event and this year the train that they will be highlighting is the Union Pacific.

There will be slide shows and exhibits highlighting the heritage of the Union Pacific Railroad and there will also be a Memorabilia Swap Meet and a special exhibit by the Garden Railroad Society.

Kids Activities will revolve around the School House with a special craft for each child to make and take home with them and all the buildings will be open for touring with special "Railroad Meals" being cooked in several of the village kitchens!

The children will be able to take train rides around the Village as well as play games that would have been available 100 years ago!

This year's featured train will be the Union Pacific.

Admission:

• $4 for adults
• $2 for kids age 5-14
• Free if you're under 5

For more information about this event, visit their website at: www.cedar-rapids.org/ushers/index.html

OR contact me by phone at: (319) 329-6471 or email at: Heather@VoyagerRealty.com

SIGN UP TODAY! The first of three Workshops will be held Tuesday, May 15th.

The Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, Diversity Focus along with several other organizations have teamed up to present three workshops with diversity as the overarching themes.

The Business Workshop will examine the distinction between management and leadership and also what the characteristics of a transformational leader should look like. Trainers will be Jude West, UI Professor of Business and Paul Retish, UI Professor of Diversity and Special Education.

The topics will be:

• discussing audiences attitudes regarding diversity
• economic, diversity and changing demographics of the USA
• organizations commitment on how to diversify

When: May 15, 2007 from 9am to 4pm

Where: Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 424 First Ave NE, Cedar Rapids

Cost: $75 / each session or $200 for all three

For more information, contact Joy Nicholson at 319-730-1406 or jnicholson@cedarrapids.org or visit the website at www.cedarrapids.org.

Looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend?

A kid-friendly, playful exhibition is on display at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, located at 410-3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Take the family to the museum on Saturday, May 12th and you will be able to explore the galleries featuring Original Children's Book Illustrations including nearly 120 illustrations of the following classic characters: Curious George, Madeline, Charlie Brown, Babar, Little Toot and many more!

Kids of all ages can also enjoy story time, greet storybook characters, participate in an illustration workshop and meet local authors and illustrators. The first kids to arrive will receive a copy of the original Curious George story and FREE museum highlight tours.

Kids can go on a Treasure Hunt through the Museum and enter to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.

For more information, you can call me: 319-329-6471 or email me: Heather@VoyagerRealty.com

The event is free to the public.

This weekend (May 4 & 5) Mt. Vernon, Iowa (the home of Cornell College) hosted Iowa's largest-ever Madonnari Festival. It lasted two days and hundreds of people from the State of Iowa visited the event. One full block of 1st Avenue (or Main Street) was blocked off as a large canvas for multiple events.

Many professional artists were on hand to create 10 X 12 chalk images and a massive 3,000 square foot area was blocked off in 2 X 2 squares for individuals of all artistic abilities to participate. My 4 yr old son and I drew a square as did my 7 yr old daughter and her friend. Luckily, the rain held off until the very end of the day on Sunday.

Craig Wilson, event coordinator, said it best, "imagine a beautiful spring day in Iowa with hundreds of community members and visitors from all walks of life, gathering together to work on a single collaborative piece of art. That is Mount Vernon's Chalk the Walk."

In addition to the artwork, there were street musicians and food vendors on hand.

I will be adding pictures soon.

On Saturday, April 28th, the Indian Creek Nature Center will be inviting women to make walking their adventure and to kick off their walking season at the annual WOMAN'S WALKING WORKSHOP.

Included at the workshop:

• Karen McCaa, color commentator and life coach, will give an inspirational talk.
• Jim Dwyer, Running Wild, will help participants know their feet and learn how to select the perfect fitting shoe.
• Jan Temple, ISU Extension, will show how whole grains and legumes can be crafted into delicious meals.
• Charlynne McFerren, Carlson College of Massage Therapy, will present an introduction to aromatherapy
• Kim Flugga-Ciha will present closing meditation

There will be continental breakfast provided and Carlson College will provide chair massages.

Don't miss this great day to kick off Spring!

Admission: $35 for Nature Center members & $40 for non-members.

For more information, call 319-362-0664.